Lisa and I honeymooned before our wedding in Brazil, doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the birthplace of the art, and with the esteemed Professor Pedro Sauer. It was an incredible experience!

On the plane, excited!

The sign held up by the driver who picked us up. Our last name, Wood, translated to Madeira. ‘In Brazil, language translates you.’

On the way from the airport to Petropolis, where the camp is.

Drive became beautiful and treacherous as we headed up into the mountains, to Petropolis.

Starting to reach civilization, outside Petropolis.

They were nice enough to give us our own bedroom. Someone told us this might have been Helio Gracie’s bed, but someone else indicated another might have been.

View out our window.

The training area, in the pool house!

Lisa and I by Helio’s old car.

The building we lodged and ate in, across from the pool and training area.

A full class watches as Professor Pedro Sauer takes questions.

Group shot. We were there with a few Americans, and like 15 Aussies. Great people!

Behind the pool house, the forest leads up the rest of the mountain, but at ground level, there is a man-made waterfall.

Nice accommodations all around.

A food spread. All ate very well, even the vegans!

The pool was often decorated with drying gis after training sessions.

Another shot of the waterfall. (It is cold.)

On sightseeing day we headed to Sugarloaf first.

That is Sugarloaf.

We parked and headed over to the attraction.

Visitors head up to the top of Sugarloaf in a cable car.

As we leave the ground.

Halfway up Sugarloaf. Getting into some serious scenery here.

The stuff of postcards. At the top of the center-right peak is the Jesus statue.

Another view.

Selfies on the edge.

We ate lunch at a Churrascaria. Translation: Meatland. All were awed by the bottomless meat spike service.

Next we visited Copacabana Beach, which was gorgeous.

The beach is right on the city’s edge.

Down the road a ways is Ipanema Beach, at which we all journeyed out a jetty to take it all in.

The coast along Ipanema Beach.

We went to the Jesus statue, but, due to clouds, it was closed. This graffiti adorns the bottom. Sup Easy E.

The legendary school, Gracie Humaita, photographed from outside.

Inside Gracie Humaita.

The characteristically grumpy Rolker fondly remembered staying at my mother’s house when he came to CT for a seminar. He said “I remember you. Your jiu jitsu was good. What happened?” referring to my purple belt 16 years later.

After Humaita, we stopped at an eatery and Lisa got me to try Acai. It’s served in Brazil as a pudding consistency. It was very, very good!

One day, Professor Sauer took us around his property and up the mountain showing us the plant and animal life around.

From our tour of the property.

The pool house, viewed from the mountain behind the Sauer Posada.

Professor Sauer pointing out the abundantly growing acai plants.

Woods in the woods.

Climbing back to camp.

I got a killer shiner rolling with a guy, Jake, who I believe is on an upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Out on the town with Hayden and Leith.

Closer to the Sauer Posada is Gracie Petropolis. Many students, mostly black belts, from Gracie Petropolis visited our camp daily, and trained with us, and learned from Professor Sauer beside us. Here we are with Jhonny (sic).